Pallet-ramp coupling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for integrating the steps of securing and aligning a ramp to the pallet. A pallet mounting bracket secures to a pallet and mates with a corresponding ramp mounting bracket secured to a ramp. A pallet mounting bracket includes a registration receptacle that receives a registration member secured to the ramp mounting bracket in order to position the ramp with respect to the pallet. A driving member secured to the pallet mounting bracket engages a corresponding engagement portion on the ramp mounting bracket as the ramp is lowered into place next to the pallet. The driving member urges the engagement portion toward the pallet thereby urging a fastener secured to the ramp mounting bracket into engagement with a locking portion secured to the pallet mounting bracket thereby locking the ramp into position in alignment with the pallet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an apparatus, system, and method forunloading pallets and more particularly to an apparatus, system, andmethod for coupling unloading ramps to pallets.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wooden and plastic pallets are ubiquitous in the shipping industry.Nearly every shipment of bulky items comes attached to a pallet.Typically the pallet provides a standard interface for forklift bladeswhen lifting the cargo and pallet for transport. Pallets provide anadditional benefit of having a standardized size, enabling goods loadedon pallets to be packed tightly together during shipping.

Because pallets typically must provide some room for insertion offorklift blades, the upper surface of the pallet may be as much as seveninches above the ground. When the pallet and its cargo arrive at a finaldestination, the recipient must typically find some means to move thecargo the seven inches from the top of the pallet to the ground. Such anoperation can be very problematic for bulky, delicate items such aslarge computer systems, of which pre-configured server racks are acommon example. In a typical scenario, the end recipient of a computersystem is not in the shipping business and will not have the know-how orequipment to easily unload the computer system from the pallet. Giventhe great weight of computer systems, the recipient may risk injury ordamage to the cargo by unloading the cargo improperly.

One solution to this problem is to ship unloading ramps with the cargoand pallet. Such ramps may be mountable to the pallet to ease themovement of the cargo from the pallet to the ground. However, unloadingramps present some additional difficulties. For example, if the ramp isnot properly secured to the pallet, it may shift while the cargo isunloading, with potentially disastrous results. If the top of the rampis not aligned with the top of the pallet, the cargo may experience aruinous jolt when it falls from the pallet onto the ramp. Alternatively,if the ramp is higher than the top of the pallet, the cargo may tend tocatch on the ramp and tip as it is pushed off the pallet or push theramp away from the pallet altogether.

Prior attempts to bundle ramps with a pallet and cargo have a number ofdeficiencies. Some fail to provide any mechanisms for securing the rampto the pallet. Those attempts that secure the ramps to the palletrequire user intervention to secure the ramps to the pallet. That is,the user must both position the ramp and take steps to secure the rampto the pallet. Requiring users to take additional steps to secure theramp to the pallet is problematic for two reasons.

First, due to the inexperience of the typical user, a user who isunloading cargo may not realize that additional steps are needed tosecure a ramp. Therefore, a user may not be prompted to, for example,find a fastener among the packaging of a computer system and may neglectto use the fastener to secure the ramp.

Secondly, in order for a user to secure a ramp to a pallet using afastener, such as a bolt, the ramp and pallet must be precisely sized.For example, to secure the ramp to the pallet with a bolt, an apertureon the ramp must typically be aligned with an aperture on the pallet inorder to insert the bolt there through. This requirement for alignmentimposes excessive requirements for dimensional precision. Pallets andramps are typically made very inexpensively out of rough-cut boardssubject to very loose tolerance in both their size and position whenassembled. Requiring precise measurements when placing holes to receivebolts increases the cost of an otherwise simple article.

In addition, pallets are subject to rough handling and moisture duringshipping, both of which can affect the shape and size of the pallet. Theweight of cargo may deform the pallet or crush portions of the pallet.Moisture causes wood to swell and distort. This deformation of thepallet during shipment makes aligning the ramp and pallet for securementwith traditional fasteners even more difficult. Even where a fastener isusable to fasten the ramp to the pallet, distortion of the pallet maycause the upper surface of the ramp to be misaligned with respect to theupper surface of the pallet, leading to difficulties in unloading.

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need existsfor an apparatus, system, and method that can securely attach a ramp toa pallet without the need for a separate fastener. Such a device shouldintegrate the steps of positioning the ramp and securing the ramp to thepallet to accommodate inexperienced users. Beneficially, such anapparatus would align the upper surface of the ramp with the uppersurface of the pallet without the need for precise construction of thepallet and without regard to distortion of the pallet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable pallet ramps. Accordingly, the present invention has beendeveloped to provide an apparatus, system, and method for integratingthe steps of securing an unloading ramp to a pallet and aligning theramp to the pallet, thereby overcoming many or all of theabove-discussed shortcomings in the art. It will be noted that theinvention provides an apparatus, system, and method for aligning andsecuring a first surface or structure with respect to a second surfaceor structure.

A first surface may comprise a relatively flat surface such as aplatform or floor. The second surface may comprise an inclined surfacesuch as a ramp or plank. Of course the first and second surfaces mayhave the same slope. Typically, the first surface comprises an uppersurface of a pallet and the second surface comprises an under surface ofa ramp. Such an apparatus, system and method may be used with othertypes of ramps or with other applications requiring such functionality.

The apparatus for securing a pallet to a ramp is provided with a palletfor facilitating the transport of cargo and an unloading ramp for aidingin unloading the cargo from the pallet. The apparatus, in oneembodiment, is configured to substantially simultaneously secure theramp to the pallet during unloading and align the ramp with respect tothe pallet.

In one embodiment, a fastener secures to the ramp and is positionablewithin a locking receptacle secured to the pallet. An engagement portionsecures to the ramp and is positioned to engage a driver secured to thepallet. As the engagement portion is brought into engagement with thedriver, the driver urges the engagement portion, and thus the ramp, toan operable position wherein the fastener is engaged with the lockingreceptacle. When engaged with the locking receptacle, the fastener istypically restrained against movement in the vertical direction.

Some embodiments may include a registration member secured to the rampand a registration receptacle secured to the pallet. The registrationmember may be inserted into the registration receptacle to position theramp during engagement of the driver with the engagement portion.Registering the ramp may ensure that the engagement portion ispositioned proximate the driver and that the fastener is positionedproximate the locking receptacle.

In one embodiment, the driver, locking receptacle, and registrationreceptacle are all formed as part of a pallet mounting bracket securedto the upper surface of the pallet. In a like manner, the engagementportion, fastener, and registration member may all be formed as part ofa ramp mounting bracket secured to a lower surface of the ramp.

A driver and engagement portion may be embodied as angled portions ofthe pallet mounting bracket and ramp mounting bracket, respectively. Asthe angled portions are pushed downwardly against each other, aresulting longitudinal force urges the engagement portionlongitudinally, thereby forcing the fastener into the lockingreceptacle.

A fastener may be embodied as a portion of a tab extending from the rampmounting bracket. The locking receptacle may be a receptacle formed inthe pallet mounting bracket and positioned to receive insertion of thetab and restrain the tab vertically.

A registration member may be embodied as a portion of the tab thatinserts into a portion of the aperture sized to receive it. For example,a tab may include a wide portion and a narrow portion formingdownwardly-extending, upside-down “T.” The registration member may beconsidered to be the horizontal line of the T and the fastener may beconsidered to be the under side of the horizontal line.

The aperture may likewise include a wide portion and a narrow portion,forming a horizontal T, with the wide portion closest to the edge of thepallet. The registration receptacle may be considered to be the wideportion of the aperture and the locking receptacle may be considered tobe the narrow portion of the aperture

To register the ramp with respect to the pallet, the tab is insertedinto the wide portion of the aperture. The ramp may then be lowered toengage the engagement portion with the driver. As the driver urges theengagement member longitudinally, the tab is urged into the narrowportion of the aperture. The wide portion of the tab is then restrainedagainst vertical movement, inasmuch as it cannot pass through the narrowportion of the aperture

A method for using the foregoing apparatus may include registering theramp with respect to the pallet, transitioning the ramp, engaging theengagement portion with the driver, and engaging the fastener with thelocking receptacle. Registering the ramp may include inserting theregistration member into the registration receptacle. Transitioning theramp may include moving the ramp downwardly, moving the engagementportion toward the driver. Engaging an engagement portion with thedriver may include lowering the ramp to cause the engagement portion topress against the driver, creating a resulting longitudinal force on theramp. Engaging the fastener with the locking receptacle may includeinserting the fastener into the locking receptacle such that thefastener is restrained against vertical movement.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a pallet, ramp, and pallet mountingbracket, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of a pallet mounting bracket havinga registration receptacle, locking portion, and driving member, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ramp mounting bracket having aregistration member, fastener, and engagement portion, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram of a method for securing a ramp to apallet, in accordance to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a top view of a pallet mounting bracket and ramp mountingbracket with the registration member inserted into the registrationreceptacle, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a side view of a registration member and registrationreceptacle, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a side view of a pallet mounting bracket and ramp mountingbracket with the engagement portion engaged with the driving member ofthe pallet mounting bracket, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5D is a top view of a pallet mounting bracket and ramp mountingbracket with the fastener engaged with the locking portion, inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5E is a side view of a fastener engaged with the locking portion,in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus 100 for loading or unloading cargo maydefine translational directions 102 a-102 c and rotational directions104 a-104 c defined with respect to a pallet 110. Transverse direction102 a may be substantially normal to the upper surface 112 a of thepallet 110. Longitudinal direction 102 b may be defined as parallel tothe upper surface 112 a of the pallet 110 and correspond to thedirection of travel of cargo as the cargo is unloaded. A lateraldirection 102 c may be defined as being perpendicular to both thetransverse direction 102 a and longitudinal direction 102 b. Rotationaldirections 104 a-104 c are defined as rotation about axes parallel tothe translational directions 102 a-102 c, respectively.

A pallet 110 may include an upper surface 112 a for supporting cargo anda lower surface 112 b spaced apart in transverse direction 102 a fromthe upper surface 112 a. The upper surface 112 a may define a loadingedge 114 defined as the edge of the pallet 110 proximate to which a rampwill secure. In some embodiments, the pallet 110 may include one or morechannels 116 extending in longitudinal direction 102 b. A channel 116may secure portions of the cargo against movement in lateral direction102 c during shipping and unloading. In certain embodiments, a shelf120, cut out 120, or other formation 120, may be formed at one end ofthe channel 116 to mate with a corresponding structure on a ramp.

A ramp 122, or ramps 122 may be attached to the pallet 110 prior tounloading cargo. In applications where a ramp is used to load cargo ontoa pallet 110, the ramp 122 may secure to the pallet 110 prior to loadingof the cargo. A ramp 122 may have a channel 124 formed thereon andpositioned to mate with the channel 116 of the pallet 110 to provide acontinuous guide from the pallet to a supporting surface, such as thefloor of a building. In typical embodiments, an upper edge 126 of theramp 122 will be aligned in transverse direction 102 a with the channel124 to prevent unloaded cargo from falling from the channel 116 to thechannel 124. The channel 124 will typically extend from the upper edge126 to a lower edge 128 resting on or near a support surface when theramp is fully secured to the pallet 110. It will be noted that forembodiments of the apparatus 100 that do not include channels 116 or124, an upper surface of the ramp 122 may simply be aligned with theupper surface 112 a of the pallet 100.

A ramp 122 may include a portion 130 of the ramp 122, cutout 130, orlike formation matable with the shelf 120 formed on the pallet 110. Theportion 130 may support the upper edge 126 and facilitate alignment ofthe channels 116, 124.

A pallet mounting bracket 140 may be secured to the upper surface 112 aof the pallet 110 near the unloading edge 114. The bracket 140 mayengage a corresponding bracket (discussed in more detail below) securedto the ramp 122. A pallet mounting bracket 140 may perform the functionsof securing and aligning the ramp 122 to the pallet 110. A benefit ofthe bracket 140 is that it is a separate member that is simply fastenedto the pallet 110 by standard fasteners. The pallet 110 may still bemade of wood cut to loose tolerances, and only the bracket 140 and itsposition require greater precision. The bracket 140 may be made ofstamped sheet steel, or like material, having similar strength andmanufacturability. Alternatively, the bracket 140 may be integrallyformed with the upper surface 112 a of the pallet 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pallet mounting bracket 140 may include aregistration receptacle 202, a driving member 204, and a lockingreceptacle 206 for engaging structures on the ramp 122 to secure andalign the ramp 122 to the pallet 110. In the illustrated embodiment, theregistration receptacle 202 and locking receptacle 206 are embodied as aportion of an aperture 208 formed in an upper portion 210 of the bracket140. A locking receptacle 206 may be embodied as a narrow portion 212 ofthe aperture 208 having a width 214. The registration receptacle 202 maybe embodied as a wide portion 216 of the aperture 208 having a width 218greater than the width 214 of the narrow portion 212.

The top portion 210 may be positioned a height 222 above the pallet 110in order to permit insertion of a fastener and registration memberthrough the aperture 208. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the topportion 210 may rest on two upwardly extending portions 224 a and 224 b.

A driving member 204 may be embodied as a portion of the bracket 140positioned to urge the ramp 122 toward alignment, securement, or both,with the pallet 110 upon some movement of the ramp 122. For example,such movement may include pivoting or lowering the ramp 122 toward thebracket 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the driving member 204 is anangled portion 226 of the bracket 140. The angled portion 226 may beginangling upwardly in transverse direction 102 a a distance 228 from theupwardly extending portion 224 a. A securement portion 229 may extendbetween the upwardly extending portion 224 a and the angled portion 226.The securement portion 229 may receive bolts, or like fasteners, forsecuring the bracket 140 to the pallet 110. The angled portion 226 mayform an angle 230 of about 135 degrees relative to the securementportion 229.

A bracket 140 may have a width 232 corresponding to the width of theramp 122 selected for use therewith. Accordingly, a bracket 140 may bewide for a wide ramp, and narrow for a narrower ramp. A bracket 140 mayinclude a plurality of registration receptacles 202 and lockingreceptacles 204 likewise corresponding to the width of the ramp, withwider ramps having more receptacles 202, 204. Preferably, thereceptacles 202 are distributed along the bracket 140 in lateraldirection 102 c and aligned with each other.

It will be noted that in some embodiments the portions of the palletmounting bracket 140 performing distinct functions may be formed asdistinct members, rather than as monolithic portions of the palletmounting bracket 140. For example, the angled portion 226 and the topportion 210 having the aperture 208 formed therein may be separatemembers independently secured to the pallet 110.

Referring to FIG. 3, ramp mounting bracket 300 may secure to the ramp122 and engage the pallet mounting bracket 140 to secure and align theramp 122 to the pallet 110. A ramp mounting bracket 300 may include aregistration member 302 for both inserting into the registrationreceptacle 202 and a fastener 304 engaging the locking receptacle 206. Aramp mounting bracket 300 may likewise include an engagement portion 306for engaging the driving member 204 of the pallet mounting bracket 140.A fastener 304 may be automatically engaged with the locking receptacle206 or may be manually inserted by a user. For example, a fastener 304may be a bolt that is manually inserted through apertures formed in thepallet mounting bracket 140 and ramp mounting bracket 300.

In the illustrated embodiment, the registration member 302 and fastener304 are embodied as portions of a tab 308 secured to the ramp mountingbracket 300, or formed monolithically therewith. The tab 308 typicallyextends downwardly in transverse direction 102 a. The registrationmember 302 may be embodied as a wide portion 310 having a width 312slightly smaller than the width 218 (see FIG. 2) of the wide portion 216of the aperture 208 formed in the pallet mounting bracket 140. Afastener 304 may be embodied as a cutout 314, or shoulder 314 formed inthe tab 308, creating a narrow portion 316 on the tab 308 having a width318 slightly smaller than the width 214 (see FIG. 2) of the narrowportion 212 of the aperture 208 formed in the pallet mounting bracket140.

The engagement portion 306 may be embodied as an angled portion 320connected or secured to the ramp mounting bracket 300 or formedmonolithically therewith. The angled portion 320 may form an angle 324of 45 degrees. The angled portion 320 and tab 308 may be secured to asecurement portion 322. The securement portion 322 may secure directlyto the ramp 122 by means of bolts, screws, or like fastener.

It will be noted that in some embodiments the portions of the rampmounting bracket 300 performing distinct functions may be formed asdistinct members, rather than as monolithic portions of the rampmounting bracket 300. For example, the angled portion 320 and tab 308may be separate members independently secured to the ramp 122.

Referring to FIG. 4, a method 400 for securing a ramp 122 to a pallet110 may include registering 410 the ramp 122, transitioning 420 the ramp122, engaging 430 a driving member 204 with an engagement portion 306,and engaging 440 a fastener 304 with a locking receptacle 206. It willbe noted that a method for removing a ramp 122 is simply the reverse ofthe actions described as part of the method 400.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, while still referring to FIG. 4,registering 410 the ramp 122 may include aligning the ramp 122 in atleast one dimension with respect to the pallet 110 in order to positionthe engagement portion 306 sufficiently close to the driving member 204to engage the driving member 204 in the transitioning step 420.Registering 410 may also position the fastener 304 in sufficientproximity to the locking receptacle 206 such that the driving member 204urges the locking receptacle 206 into engagement with the fastener 304during engagement 440 of the driving member 204 with the engagementportion 306.

In the illustrated embodiment, registering 410 the ramp 122 includespositioning the ramp in the lateral direction 102 c and roughlypositioning the ramp 122 in the longitudinal direction 102 b. A user maybe aided in registering 410 the ramp 122 by engaging the registrationmember 302 with the registration receptacle 202. In the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 5A, registering 410 therefore includes inserting thewide portion 310 of the tab 308 into the wide portion 216 of theaperture 208.

Referring to FIG. 5C, while still referring to FIG. 4, transitioning 420the ramp 122 may include translating and/or rotating the ramp 122substantially along a line of action or substantially about axis ofrotation fixed in the registering step 410. In the illustratedembodiment, transitioning 420 the ramp 122 includes rotating the ramp122 downwardly in rotational direction 104 c about the point of contactbetween the ramp mounting bracket 300 and the pallet mounting bracket140. In the illustrated embodiment, transitioning 420 the ramp 122 mayalso include translating the ramp 122 toward the pallet 110 intransverse direction 102 a.

Engaging 430 the driving member 204 with the engagement portion 306includes urging the engagement portion 204 against the driving member306 to translate a force exerted on the ramp 122 in one direction into aforce acting in another direction. For example, a rotational or downwardforce exerted on the ramp 122 in the transitioning step 420 may betranslated into a longitudinal force in the engaging step 430.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5C, engaging 430 the drivingmember 204 with the engagement portion 306 includes urging the angledportion 320 of the ramp mounting bracket 300 against the angled portion226 of the pallet mounting bracket 140, thereby causing a resultingforce on the ramp mounting bracket 300 urging the ramp 122 inlongitudinal direction 102 b.

Referring to FIGS. 5D and 5E, while still referring to FIG. 4, engagingthe fastener 304 with the locking receptacle 206 may include engagingthe narrow portion 316 of the tab 308 with the narrow portion 212 of theaperture 208. The shoulder 314, of the tab 308 will therefore preventremoval of the tab 308 from the aperture 208, unless the tab 308 istranslated back in the longitudinal direction 102 b.

Engaging fastener 304 with the locking portion 206 may be caused by thelongitudinal motion forced by engagement of the engagement portion 306with the driving member 204. It will be noted that the engagement of thedriving member 204 with the engagement portion 306 prevents removal ofthe ramp 122 from the pallet 110 during unloading of cargo, inasmuch asthe weight of the cargo will continuously press the engagement portion306 against the driving member 204, in turn forcing the fastener 305 toremain inserted in the locking receptacle 206.

The longitudinal force caused by urging the engagement portion 306against the driving member 204 also urges the edge 126 of the ramp 122into transverse alignment with the channel 116 formed in the pallet 110.It will be noted that inasmuch as the pallet mounting bracket 140 ismounted on the upper surface 112 a of the pallet 110 in someembodiments, a ramp 122 engaging the bracket 140 will be alignable inmost cases regardless of any crushing or distortion of the pallet 110beneath the upper surface 112 a

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. An apparatus for aligning and securing a ramp to a surface, theapparatus comprising: a first surface comprising a guide securedproximate an edge of the first surface and a receptacle; a secondsurface having at least one operable position with respect to the firstsurface, the second surface comprising a follower configured to engagethe guide as the second surface approaches the at least one operableposition, the guide configured to drive the second surface further intothe at least one operable position, wherein the guide comprises a firstangled member secured to the first surface and the follower comprises asecond angled member secured to the second surface, the second angledmember positioned to be translatable downwardly against the first angledmember to cause a resulting force effective to urge the second angledmember longitudinally toward the first surface, the second surfacefurther comprises a fastener, the fastener positioned to insert into thereceptacle when the second surface is in the at least one operableposition, the receptacle restraining the fastener against verticalmovement when the fastener is inserted therein, wherein the fastener isa portion of a tab secured to the second surface and the receptacle is alocking portion of an aperture being defined by the first surface, thetab positioned to insert longitudinally into the locking portion.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises an uppersurface of a pallet and the second surface comprises a portion of aramp.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first mountingbracket fastened to the first surface, the first angled member beingsecured to the first mounting bracket and the aperture being defined bythe first mounting bracket.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, furthercomprising a second mounting bracket secured to the second surface, thesecond angled member and tab being secured to the second mountingbracket.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second mountingbracket is secured to the underside of the second surface.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein the first surface comprises a recessedshelf proximate the edge thereof, the first mounting bracket secured tothe recessed shelf.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the firstsurface comprises the upper surface of a pallet and the second surfacecomprises an inclined ramp surface.
 8. An apparatus for aligning andsecuring a ramp to a pallet, the apparatus comprising: a palletcomprising an upper surface for supporting cargo, a lower surface forresting on a support surface spaced apart from the upper surface, aguide secured proximate an edge of the upper surface, the guidecomprising a first angled member secured to the pallet and the followercomprises a second angled member secured to a ramp, the second angledmember positioned to be translatable downwardly against the first angledmember to cause a resulting force effective to urge the second angledmember longitudinally toward the pallet; a receptacle; the ramp forunloading cargo from the pallet, the ramp comprising an inclined surfacehaving a distal end positionable in alignment with the upper surface ofthe pallet and a proximal end spaced apart from the distal end andpositionable in alignment with the support surface, the ramp having atleast one operable position wherein the distal end is positioned inalignment with the upper surface; a follower configured to engage theguide as the ramp approaches the at least one operable position to drivethe ramp further into the at least one operable position; and a fastenerpositioned to insert into the receptacle when the ramp is in the atleast one operable position, the receptacle restraining the fasteneragainst vertical movement when the fastener is inserted therein, whereinthe fastener is a portion of a tab secured to the ramp and thereceptacle is a locking portion of an aperture defined by the pallet,the tab positioned to insert longitudinally into the locking portion. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a pallet mounting bracketfastened to the pallet, the first angled member being secured to thepallet mounting bracket and the aperture being defined by the bracket.10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a ramp mounting bracketsecured to the ramp, the second angled member and tab being secured tothe ramp mounting bracket.